Statement of Faith

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Chichester, N. H.

Adopted November 20, 1987
Amended November 18, 1989
Amended November 18, 2000

FORM OF COVENANT

WE COVENANT with the Lord Jesus Christ and with this church in the presence of God, to commit ourselves to Him and to His church. We accept Jesus' call to "deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him." We acknowledge our utter dependence upon God's grace to do this, but we declare before God and before all men our commitment to this way of life. We pledge ourselves to be doers of the Word and not hearers only; to grow up in every way into Christ; to consecrate our lives, time, talent, substance and influence to the work of Christ in this church and in the world.

PREAMBLE TO THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE The Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order and the Cambridge Platform to be the classical expression of historic Congregational principles, and therefore a valuable guideline for Congregational churches, we affirm the following statement of faith as an adequate basis for fellowship among evangelical Christians. In acknowledging these two historic documents, it is to be understood not as an authoritative rule or code of faith whereby we are to be restrained or confined, but as an assistance to each of us in our faith, as a means of edification.

ARTICLES OF FAITH

Do not be ashamed of your faith; remember that it is the ancient Gospel of Martyrs, Confessors, Reformers and Saints. Above all, it is the truth of God, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. Let your lives adorn your faith, let your example adorn your creed. Above all, live in Christ Jesus, and walk in Him, giving credence to no teaching but that which is approved of Him, and owned by the Holy Spirit. Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you.

1. WE BELIEVE the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments to be the only
inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.

2. WE BELIEVE that there is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. WE BELIEVE in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His
miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily
resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His
personal return in power and glory.

4. WE BELIEVE that for salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

5. WE BELIEVE in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world. The evidence of the Holy Spirit's ministry is His grace, His fruit and His gifts.

6. WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

7. WE BELIEVE in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.